I've a bone to pick...
"Well, the decomposing body of the little girl who was raped, tortured and murdered was found in a drainage ditch yesterday. The gentleman who reportedly committed this crime is still on the loose."
"The bank robber ran from the bank and jumped into a getaway car with another gentleman at the wheel."
"After grabbing the elderly woman's purse, the gentleman fled the scene."
Can anyone spot the common denominator in these three statements? Am I the only person in the world who takes issue with calling or addressing murders, rapists, robbers and assholes as "gentlemen"? This is so common... and it is done by "professional" news reporters. Gentleman? Gentle man. The meaning of the word has changed over the years and it's now generally used, if used correctly, to address or describe a person (male) who is polite and thoughtful of others. How can the word be used to describe or address an asshole? Who would use the term "gentleman" in reference to a rapist?
I suppose, in an effort to not offend anyone and be politically correct, news reporters are taking no chances. Or maybe they are just not aware of what they are saying. Or maybe they are just plain stupid dickheads. Am I alone here? Am I going on about nothing? Do I need to chill out? ... Fuck no. Hell fucking no.
Those who refer to evil, violent people as "gentlemen" need to have this offense pointed out to them and that is just what I am doing and what I intend to keep doing. The next time I hear a reporter refer to Mike Vick as the "gentleman who was convicted of torturing dogs", they will hear from me.
a c slim
1 Comment
Reader Comments (1)
Point well taken, Slim.
Similarly, as an example, my sensibilities are assaulted when a crime or an auto accident is described, as involving “two men.” Instead, as it turns out, “two teenagers” were involved.
Anyone who’s been around them long enough knows that male teenagers are usually not men. At best they are men-in-progress, often devoid of good judgment and many times in the grip of raging hormones.
Teenagers are not people, they are t-e-e-n-a-g-e-r-s. Sometimes the women/teenagers are even a better example.
That’s my opinion and I’m sticking it to it.